[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Danny Glover

[Al Kagan]

FYI

>Delivered-To: akagan at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
>From: "Colin Darch" <darch at uctlib.uct.ac.za>
>Organization: University of Cape Town
>To: Al Kagan <akagan at uiuc.edu>
>Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 09:28:37 +0200
>Subject: Danny Glover
>X-Confirm-Reading-To: "Colin Darch" <darch at uctlib.uct.ac.za>
>X-pmrqc: 1
>Priority: normal
>Status:  
>
>  > I don't know about the Danny Glover situation.  Please advise.  See
>>  more comments below.
>
>See below:
>
>     Danny Glover, actor, activist, and board member of the Positive
>     Futures Network, has been coming under a hailstorm of attacks
>     based on an incident following a speech he gave at Princeton on
>     November 16.
>
>     This is not just about Danny. It's about all of us. As Danny
>     noted in his speech, "When we fear, we clamp down on those who do
>     not think like us or who do not look like us." We see that
>     happening everywhere, as our leaders look for total support for
>     their military agenda and view dissent as unpatriotic.
>
>     As we enter this McCarthyesque period, I think we are all called
>     upon to be more courageous, more articulate in our views, and
>     more supportive of one another.
>
>     HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED TO DANNY: On November 16, at the invitation
>     of the local Amnesty International chapter, Danny gave a speech
>     about the death penalty to a packed auditorium at Princeton
>     University. Danny is well known for his opposition to the death
>     penalty. He pointed out that 98 death row inmates have recently
>     been released after new evidence demonstrated their innocence. He
>     also noted the racial bias in the system in which 43 percent of
>     741 executed prisoners were African Americans. His speech was
>     received enthusiastically by a sympathetic audience.
>
>     After the close of the speech, when many had already left the
>     auditorium, a young man questioned Danny in such racist language
>     that the remaining audience booed the questioner. Danny signaled
>     for quiet, saying we need to listen to all. The questioner
>     accused Danny of "playing the victim" and suggested he go back
>     and fix his own communities rather than blame racism.
>
>     He also wanted to know if Danny would extend his opposition to
>     the death penalty to Osama bin Laden. Danny affirmed his
>     opposition to the death penalty, period. The provocative exchange
>     continued, with Danny noting that America has been a key purveyor
>     of violence in this world. Danny also voiced his objections to
>     the military tribunals that President Bush has created.
>
>     These comments have elicited a hailstorm of outrage. For two
>     weeks The Trentonian newspaper ran angry comments suggesting that
>     if Danny didn't love this country he should leave it -- and
>     worse. Ollie North broadcast the story across the country on his
>     Radio America show, provoking hundreds of hate-filled calls to
>     Danny's agency in Los Angeles. Ollie urged his audience to
>     boycott "The Royal Tenenbaums" -- a movie to be released in late
>     December in which Danny stars along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Gene
>     Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, and others.
>
>     In Modesto, California, the controversy caused the City Council
>     to pull out of sponsoring Danny as the featured speaker for the
>     celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Fortunately, the local
>     planning committee for the event has maintained their invitation
>     and Danny plans to speak. According to the Modesto Bee, "John
>     Lucas, president of the Modesto Peace Life Center, one of the
>     sponsors, noted that King himself was controversial and
>     criticized the Vietnam War. Lucas does not think Glover's views
>     are much different from those King might have had if he were
>     alive today. "The interesting thing I find is that Martin Luther
>     King wouldn't be invited to his own event," he said.
>
>     WHAT YOU CAN DO: Those who wold stifle dissent are quick to
>     express their opinions and target anyone who takes a larger view
>     of patriotism. We, too, must be ready to respond quickly in our
>     vigilant defense of real democracy.
>
>     **MODESTO**: Show support for Danny -- and for free speech -- in
>     Modesto. If you know anyone around that area, urge them to
>     attend! Danny will speak on Saturday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. at
>     the Christ Unity Baptist Church at 1320 L St. in Modesto (Call
>     the Peace Life Center for further information: (209) 529-5750).
>
>     Fax the Modesto City Council at (209) 571-5586 or write them at
>     Modesto City Council, P.O. Box 642, Modesto, California 94341
>     saying you support free speech and disagree with their decision
>     to pull their backing for Danny's appearance at the MLK Day
>     activities.
>
>     **THE MOVIE**: Here's an easy one. See "The Royal Tenenbaums" -
>     - don't let Ollie North's call for a boycott depress the box
>     office.
>
>     **MLK Day**: Let's celebrate Martin Luther King Day with an
>     extra measure of clarity about his courage in consistently urging
>     this nation to live up to its ideals of democracy, freedom, and
>     peace.
>
>     **SUPPORT EACH OTHER**: Let's look for every opportunity to
>     support one another. What happened to Danny is happening to many
>     others. This is a time for courage and mutual support.

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu